(A) Regular full-time employees and statutory full-time employees are eligible for single (employee) or family (dependent) coverage administered for the County by private contract. Coverage includes: medical, prescription, dental and vision benefits. Contributions and coverage limits may vary. Please contact the Insurance Department for additional information regarding current rates and coverage.
(B) A regular full-time employee is an employee who has completed his or her orientation period and who works on average at least thirty-five hours or more per week.
(C) A statutory full-time employee is an employee who is paid out of a regular full-time employee position, who in fact may not work at least 35 hours per week, but who receives benefits by virtue of State statute, reimbursement agreement with the State or Federal government, or is an elected or appointed official, judge or magistrate, pursuant to the Indiana Constitution, or State statute.
(1) These are employees who may work less than 35 hours per week but for budget purposes are placed in job classifications where the salary is based upon working 35 hours per week and for whom health benefits must be provided by State statute or reimbursement funding agreements watts the State of Indiana or the Federal government. This includes County elected or appointed officials, judges and magistrates in a position created by the Indiana Constitution, or State statute.
(2) Notwithstanding Section I.C., in order to implement the Settlement Agreement entered into between the Lake County Superior Court and the Lake County Council dated March 13, 2018, in Order for Mandate of Funds in the Lake Superior Courts, 45D10-1701-CB-00003, Judges and Magistrates appointed to a position of Judge or Magistrate after January 1, 2019, shall be ineligible to participate in any and all current and future health care coverage and benefits provided by Lake County Government. However, Judges or Magistrates appointed after January 1, 201 9, who were either a Judge or Magistrate in the Lake Superior Court on December 31, 2018, small be covered.
(D) In those cases where union pensions and welfare funds are involved, the County will make the appropriate contributions pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement.
(E) Cobra Rights
(1) Employees and their families will have the opportunity for a temporary extension of health insurance coverage in certain instances where coverage under the County’s health plan would otherwise end. Only those employees, as well as the employee’s spouse and dependents who were covered under the County’s health insurance plan on the day before the event which triggered termination of coverage are eligible to elect continuation of coverage.
(2) Employees who are covered by the County’s health insurance plan have a right to elect continuation coverage if a loss of group health coverage occurs because of a reduction in hours of employment or the termination of employment. Generally, an employee is eligible for up to eighteen (18) months of continuing coverage although the length of coverage may be extended under certain circumstances due to an employee disability, and for coverage of dependents and spouses. COBRA rights may be withheld to the employee for certain reasons of gross misconduct.